Visitor, student or temporary work visa

B, F, J, H, L, O and other nonimmigrant visas.

I-129 decision most likely:

in 7–12 months

if you start today

USCIS decides the I-129 petition
Most likely 7–12 months after you file
Work visas (H, L, O, P, Q and R) start with an I-129 petition from the employer; for a capped H-1B, only after you are selected in the lottery. Visitors, students and exchange visitors skip this step. I-129 processing times.
How we worked this out
Based on USCIS’s median time of 9.5 months for the I-129 cases (Apr–Jun 2026 data), and on how far real waits landed from the median in past quarters: about half landed in the most likely range and 8 in 10 in the wider one.
The median counts premium and regular cases together. With premium processing, USCIS acts within weeks; without it, expect the later end of the range, or longer.
Visa appointment at your consulate
You book the visa interview at a US consulate. Global Visa Wait Times.

Newest numbers: USCIS: Apr–Jun 2026. Your case can take longer: a request for evidence or a background check can add months.

USCIS decides the I-129 petition